Have you ever been lost?

[Wind River]

About 20 or so years ago we were hunting in an area that had been logged for years. The clear-cut areas were replanted with pines and most were 20-30’ tall and very dense, barely room to walk. A favorite method of elk hunting for me is to find fresh tracks in the new snow and very slowly follow the elk into the trees. I’ve snuck up on elk and shot at close range this way.
One day, in the pre-gps, cell phone days, ( for me anyway), I became so focused on following the elk that I lost track of where I was. It was getting to be late afternoon and another front had rolled in so it was overcast. The trees were so thick I had no direction and couldn’t tell where the sun was. And, stupid me, did not have my compass with me.
As it turned out, I made it out and did not have to spend the night but it was a scary experience. Hard lesson learned.

 

[PRAIRIEDOGGER]

Turned around in the fog a couple of times. Lost, ??? no

 

[Alan]

About 20 or so years ago we were hunting in an area that had been logged for years. The clear-cut areas were replanted with pines and most were 20-30’ tall and very dense, barely room to walk. A favorite method of elk hunting for me is to find fresh tracks in the new snow and very slowly follow the elk into the trees. I’ve snuck up on elk and shot at close range this way.
One day, in the pre-gps, cell phone days, ( for me anyway), I became so focused on following the elk that I lost track of where I was. It was getting to be late afternoon and another front had rolled in so it was overcast. The trees were so thick I had no direction and couldn’t tell where the sun was. And, stupid me, did not have my compass with me.
As it turned out, I made it out and did not have to spend the night but it was a scary experience. Hard lesson learned.

That’s a close call, did that change what you always keep on you when you head out now?

 

[Wind River]

That’s a close call, did that change what you always keep on you when you head out now?

Absolutely. I carried a small pack with items needed for an overnight stay. AND, I invested in a bit of technology, a Garmin gps. A few years later it was replaced with a cellphone w/ the gps app. Now I have the same with the on-X app. A compass is still needed for real bad weather or when out of reach for cell reception.
Just because it’s never happened to you don’t assume that it won’t.

 

[Alan]

Absolutely. I carried a small pack with items needed for an overnight stay. AND, I invested in a bit of technology, a Garmin gps. A few years later it was replaced with a cellphone w/ the gps app. Now I have the same with the on-X app. A compass is still needed for real bad weather or when out of reach for cell reception.
Just because it’s never happened to you don’t assume that it won’t.

Smart approach! It is always better to be prepared for anything outdoors